Military spotting scopes (1 Viewer)

[Binoseeker]

Well, I wonder if there are any manufacturers today that makes special spotting scopes, say up to 80mm-ish ones, for the military market and what design solutions those scopes have compared to ordinary spotting scopes concerning protection against for example blows if the scope and tripod fall to the ground.

Focussers on the body, like on the Meopta or Nikon Fieldscope might be more durable than the ones sticking out, like on the vortex razor, that could more easily be bent if struck by something?

Do you have any practical experience of a "civil" scope type that is "durable", maybe your own scope that didn´t break when it fell or was dropped ?

And yes....the warranty on some scopes cover these types of accidents but if you are going on a long trip into the wild....you might prefer to choose a more durable scope since you really need it during the trip....

Cheers,

Anders

 

[Mono]

The US Army issue spotting scope is the Leupold Mk4
http://leupold.com/tactical/spotting-scopes/mark-4-spotting-scopes/

 

[MPeoples]

US Special forces buy Swarovski & Leupold spotting scopes.

Mike

 

[RJM]

I just played back the Hurt Locker movie on my HDR and sure enough, they are using the Leupold in the sniper scene.

 

[Binoseeker]

Thanks for your replies!

I guess the type of scope, like the leupold, which is not that long, is easier to handle. The focusser seems to be close to the ocular. I wonder if birders use this type of scope and how the image quality is compared to the "ordinary" designed scopes? Is it porro type of prism without the need for prism coatings like dielectric coating?

Made a search on "tactical spotting scopes" and following companies showed:
Barska, Leupold, Bushnell, Burris, Kruger.

Anders

 

[Yippeekiay]

I've wondered the same things at times:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=165063&page=2

 

[Mono]

Just seen a TV prog about Stalingrad with a modern sniper demonstration from the British Army and they were using the Leupold Mk4.

 

[gulf1263]

The US military use the Leupold Mk 4 for daytime use and have the L3 nightvision monocular (combo ITT gen 3 and thermal imager) that clips on.
A few units have cash to purchase off the shelf and may have bought both Zeiss and Swarovski.
A special electro optical attachment is used on the 95mm Swaro for digital recording with the L3 monocular added for night time use.
The French use a lot of Swarovski and some Hensoldt 72 spotting scopes with a similar monocular to the L3.
Russian's and Chinese do not yet have anything as good as the L3 monocular.
The Leupold Mk 4 is not as bright as the Leupold Gold Ring version but is compact and rugged and with the L3 monocular gives a you a big advantage
at night with the built in thermal imager.
The L3 monocular goes for over $27,000.00 US unless you are buying more than a 1,000 at a time.
The Hensoldt 72 with the L3 monocular would really be the near perfect set up but we are talking over $32,000.00 US!
Lots of big camera glass is used hooked up to electro optical equipment for recon.
Questar scopes were used but did not do well in the extreme conditions in Iraq and A-Stan.
Just about anything you can imagine has probably been tried but what is issued is a different story.
Art

 

[Maximus_XXIV]

But if I bought the ultimate $32,000 spotting combination, how would I ever justify buying any more scopes?

 

[Kevin Conville]

Maybe two years back I watched a show about an army competition long range shooting team, shooter and spotter. They didn't use the term sniper though it is undoubtedly the premise behind such competition.

Anyway the "spotter" was using a big Kowa.

 

[OSOK]

The spotting scopes used are chosen because they have a Mil Rad reticule in to call off a shot miss or distances etc .
Leupold mk4
Zeiss 60 spotter
Vortex
Bushnell
Etc

Regards

OSOK